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DISCUSSION => Engine + Driveline => Topic started by: parker575 on October 24, 2007, 02:44:17 PM

Title: hauling a trailer?
Post by: parker575 on October 24, 2007, 02:44:17 PM

Am doing a 750-mile move in the next month or so, and U-hauls are twice as expensive going south than they are going north (no idea why). I was planning to put a hitch on my 1991 318i and haul the small u-haul trailer from Chicago to Atlanta. The U-haul website says they have a recommended towing setup, but I want to hear from you guys if anyone has done it for moderately long distances.

Title: hauling a trailer?
Post by: FL318i on October 24, 2007, 02:55:53 PM

long distance is not the issue , once the car pulls the trailer then just go!!!
this is a one in a lifetime type of things, i think u should be fine, if u do a lot of city driving then thats another thing

Title: hauling a trailer?
Post by: parker575 on October 24, 2007, 02:57:45 PM

I do city driving now, but no towing obviously. And won't in the future. It'll just be the one trip.

Title: hauling a trailer?
Post by: sheepdog on October 24, 2007, 06:15:52 PM

If it is the smallest travel trailer, then you can.

Anything larger and you could pull the car apart. Also be very careful how it is installed.

It may cost more, but you may want to consider renting a truck and dolly/trailer.

Title: hauling a trailer?
Post by: christophbmw on October 24, 2007, 07:16:46 PM

the car could do it its just a matter of attaching a hitch, the only one ive seen made for our car attaches to the spare tire hole in the trunk (YIKES!).

Title: hauling a trailer?
Post by: tony92ic on October 25, 2007, 08:56:32 AM

Curt makes a traditional hitch and a connector for the wiring:

http://www.curtmfg.com

1991 - BMW 300 SERIES
SEDAN (inc xi, not M3) Install Time
30 Minutes

CLASS 1&2 HITCH
Product: 11514
Price Code: 55
Capacity Rating: 1.5
Instruction Sheet 11514
Fixed draw bar  

T-CONNECTOR 1
3 wire system, requires converter  

I don't know about towing a uhaul though.

I put a hitch on my scion Xb and its great for about 500 pounds but beyond that its really overworking the drivetrain.  Plus an enclosed trailer uhaul behind an e30 is going to have a ton of wind load at highway speeds.

Figure 500 pounds for the trailer, 500+ pounds of stuff inside and the wind load and it'll be like towing a pretty hefty boat. From Chicago to Atlanta? Through the Blue Ridge mountains. I don't think so.

Also if you decide to do it, go over to the U-haul you plan to rent from and make sure they will rent to you with that set up. I took my wife's Explorer (one of the new ones, not the flip over variety) to get a utility trailer to haul my lawn mower to the shop and they wouldn't rent to me because it was an Explorer. No exceptions. Stupidest thing i ever heard. But they may question the BMW hitch set up since its not rated for towing.

Good luck.

Title: hauling a trailer?
Post by: sheepdog on October 25, 2007, 06:19:34 PM

I would not do it.

Title: hauling a trailer?
Post by: gearheadE30 on October 25, 2007, 07:15:42 PM

sounds like a bad idea to me, too.